Holder for collapsible tubes



June 21, 1949. I "G; w. WlTTE Y -HGLDER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Fi led May 4, 1945 4 IIIIIII Patented June 21, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

My invention relates new and useful holders for collapsible tubes, and has for one of its objects to provide a holder of this type as a unitary structure adapted to be slipped onto the edge of a shelf in a medicine cabinet or the like, and including a pair of jaws of unique formation for engaging a tube in the region of its turned over end to support said tube in an inverted position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a holder for collapsible tubes including a pair of substantially parallel legs having some inherent resiliency for clamping said holder on a support, such as a shelf, the upper leg being longer and bendable to produce a vertical extension by which the holder may be hung on a nail, or the like, supported by an upright surface, such as a wall.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a holder for collapsible tubes including a pair of jaws which, when not supporting a tube, are normally open, because the inner edge of one ordinarily lies above the contiguous edge of the other.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same I will describe a construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig, 1 is a view of a conventional medicine cabinet, in section, showing my holder for collapsible tubes attached to a shelf of said cabinet and illustrating the manner of mounting a tube on the holder.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the holder per se.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the holder with a collapsible tube thereon illustrating how the jaws grip the tube.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a collapsible tube with the turned over end partly unfolded to show the general formation of the ridge which prevents displacement of the tube from the holder.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation or edge view of the holder showing the free end of the longer or upper leg bent to form the extension.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied 6 represents the holder for collapsible tubes constructed from any suitable material having some inherent resiliency and capable of being bent into shape.

Thi holder comprises an upper or long leg I and a lower or short leg 8 spaced apart vertically, one above the other, to function as a spring clamp, and substantially parallel to engage opposite faces of a support 9, such as a shelf of a medicine cabinet I0,

From the under side of the lower leg 8 depend the arms II and I2 spaced apart lengthwise of said lower leg, and the jaws I3 and I4 project inwardly towards, each other from the respective arms and one of them is slightly inclined. The inner edges of these jaws are contiguous or in close proximity to each other but the inner edge of one of them, as jaw I4, ordinarily is above the inner edge of the other to provide a normally open mouth I5, Figs. 2 and 5.

When, during the course of manufacture, the inner edges of the jaws I3 and I4 are made of a length that they actually touch each other when in a straight line, then it will be apparent that if anything is placed between the meeting edges, the arms I I and I2 will be sprung outward thereby providing spring tension on the article gripped by the jaws to help prevent accidental displacement.

The longer or upper leg I is provided With a hole I6 so that when a portion of the free end of said leg is bent at right angles to the balance thereof, Fig. 5, to form the hanger or extension la the holder may be suspended from a nail or equivalent device on an upright surface, such as a wall. When the leg I is bent to form the extension, the bend is made, preferably, at a point that will place the extension Ia and the arm II in the same plane.

The collapsible tube II, of general type, usually has its mouth closed by a cap I8 and what is ordinarily referred to as the bottom is sealed by turning the end over upon itself, as shown in Fig. l, which provides a ridge I9.

In practice, the holder 6 is placed wherever desired, by either method of suspension described, in a fairly rigid condition. To mount a tube IT on the holder, said tube is inverted and tilted, as in Fig. l, and the thin or contracted portion thereof, just inside of the ridge I9, is inserted in the mouth I5 of the jaws, transversely of the holder, so that the ridge I9 engages the inner or top surfaces of the jaws I3 and 14. As soon as the tube is released it will swing into a vertical position, Fig. 3. This will draw the jaw I4 downward to grip the tube firmly between both jaws and thereafter prevent accidental displacement. Upon removal of the cap I8, the user can press out any desired quantity of the tube contents with one hand, leaving the other one free to manipulate a brush or other article onto which the substance is to be squeezed.

A convenient way to produce this holder is to fashion the legs 1 and 8, the arm II and the jaw l3 from one strip of material, and. fashion the jaw M, arm [2 and a leaf 8 from another strip of material, then place the two units together with the leaf 8* under the leg 8 so that the inner end of said leaf contacts the arm II, and finally securing said units together, as by a single rivet 20.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that I have provided a holder for collapsible tubes so simple in construction, practical and economical that it will fill a universal need to perfection. Little space is used because the holder is of no greater width than the tube and occupies space underneath of a shelf not generally used. A battery of a dozen, more or less, of the holders can be placed in a neat row, leaving the supporting surface of a shelf free for bottles and the like.

For mechanical substances, such as glues, cemerits, pastes and the like, the holders may be placed in convenient locations so that the tubes are always ready for instant use and not likely to be misplaced or left in a leakin condition, with attendant spoilage or damage to valuable property.

Of course I do not Wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described and. these may be varied within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and useful is:

A holder for collapsible tubes comprising upper and lower horizontally paced legs constituting a spring clamp and being bendable whereby a vertical extension may be formed from the free end of theupper leg, a pair of arms depending from the lower leg of Said spring clamp and, a jaw projecting inwardly from each arm, one of which is horizontal and the other slightly inclined whereby the inner edge thereof is normally above the horizontal one to provide a normally open mouth between saidjaws, the movement of the inclined jaw towards alignment with the companion jaw tending to close the mouth.

GEORGE W. WITTE.

REFERENCES CITED ThefolloW-ing references are of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Gouldj Apr. 15, 1 935 

